On Tuesday morning, the Swope Park Rangers open their preseason camp at Swope Soccer Village ahead of the 2017 USL season. The Rangers will train primarily in Kansas City for the next seven weeks before opening the season at home against OKC Energy FC on March 25, with a five-day trip to Indianapolis at the start of March the only travel scheduled.
The Rangers are the reigning Western Conference Champions and return eight players from their inaugural season: Oumar Ballo, Amer Didic, Christian Duke, Mark Anthony Gonzalez, Felipe Hernandez, Will Little, Kevin Oliveira and Nansel Selbol.
The roster currently stands at 14 following the offseason additions of Joe Amico (Jacksonville University), Kharlton Belmar (Portland Timbers 2), Liam Doyle (Harrisburg City Islanders), Parker Maher (Saint Louis FC), Lebo Moloto (Pittsburgh Riverhounds) and James Musa (Saint Louis FC).
In addition, the Rangers will bring several trialists and Sporting KC Academy players into camp as first-year head coach Nikola Popovic and his staff looks to solidify the roster ahead of the new season.
Swope Park Rangers Preseason Roster
<strong>NAME</strong> |
<strong>POSITION</strong> |
<strong>AGE</strong> |
Joe Amico |
Defender |
21 |
Oumar Ballo |
Defender |
25 |
Kharlton Belmar |
Forward |
24 |
Amer Didic |
Defender |
22 |
Liam Doyle |
Defender |
24 |
Christian Duke |
Midfielder |
25 |
Mark Anthony Gonzalez |
Forward |
22 |
Felipe Hernandez |
Midfielder |
18 |
Will Little |
Midfielder |
18 |
Parker Maher |
Defender/Midfielder |
23 |
Lebo Moloto |
Midfielder |
26 |
James Musa |
Defender/Midfielder |
24 |
Kevin Oliveira |
Midfielder |
20 |
Nansel Selbol |
Forward |
19 |
John Connolly* |
Goalkeeper |
26 |
Trevor Haberkorn* |
Defender |
21 |
Colin Marz* |
Defender |
22 |
Robert Mirosavic* |
Midfielder |
22 |
Charles Renken* |
Midfielder |
23 |
Ray Saari* |
Midfielder |
21 |
*Trialist
